EU & UK: Barley crop forecast unchanged at 57.5 mln tonnes

Barley crop’25 development continues on a positive path toward EU27+UK production at an unchanged 57.5 mln tonnes, and only marginally increased from crop’24 estimate at 57.4 mln tonnes, RMI Analytics said in their latest report.

Winter barley conditions remain positive, with above-normal temperatures and further widespread rain over the past two weeks. The analysts’ forecast for crop’25 is based upon a limited decrease in spring barley planted area, which is at risk as weak demand is backing up barley stocks. Farmers may shift further away from seeding barley because both domestic malting demand and barley export flows are performing poorly (in the eyes of the farmer). Achieving trend-line yields is not assured but an improving soil moisture situation is a good early start but there is still a long way to go.

The European situation for barley, both malting and feed, remains heavily impacted by the weak demand environment. Supply is ample under the current demand scenario, as confirmed by the solid EU27+UK ending stock levels.

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